NIL

Wetzel

“How does that kid trust us when he has parents and agents in his ear?” he continued. “I figured out, maybe I had to spend more time to convince them. Kids don’t trust people anymore.” Close Dan Wetzel is a senior writer focused on investigative reporting, news analysis and feature storytelling. Open Extended Reactions Meanwhile, […]

Published

2 months ago

March 19, 2025

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“How does that kid trust us when he has parents and agents in his ear?” he continued. “I figured out, maybe I had to spend more time to convince them. Kids don’t trust people anymore.”
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Meanwhile, the transfer portal allowed Pitino to quickly rebuild St. John’s with veteran talent. Pearl and Barnes brought their leading scorers in from Morehead State and North Florida, respectively. For players, how hard you have worked and how good you have become, not how highly ranked a recruit you once were, determines where you get to play. Those who seek great coaching and strong programs now have the ability to do so, even late in their careers.”I kind of wavered a couple of years, too,” Izzo said of coaching in this era. “Then I just said, ‘You may have to make adjustments, but the meat and potatoes of it are, can you defend, rebound, run, take care of the ball? Can you motivate kids to do something they didn’t even think they could do?’ That is still the essence of this whole deal.”Of the eight teams seeded either No. 1 or No. 2 in this year’s men’s bracket, five are led by men 65 or older.Monied mercenaries have ended the concept of team. Transfers leaving after each season mean players no longer play for each other. Coaches are thus incapable of building and teaching. It’s a wonder they even still bother with March Madness.And there is Auburn (No. 1 seed in the South), coached by 65-year-old Bruce Pearl, regular-season champion of the historically strong SEC.For all that has changed in college basketball, and for all the claims that said change was running old-school coaches out while making team-first programs impossible for anyone of any age to create, the reality born from the results tells an opposite story.College athletics has long bowed to the howls of set-in-their-ways, establishment coaches resistant to change, rather than to let developments play out. Innovation is often the enemy. Nostalgia serves as a north star.Change might make people uncomfortable. Something different might be difficult to accept. But no matter what the lawyers or lobbyists claim, the sky is very much not falling. College hoops is still college hoops.There’s Tennessee (No. 2 seed in the Midwest), coached by 70-year-old Rick Barnes, after a 27-win season in the SEC.The new era is by no means without its flaws and frustrations. It has its benefits as well. Whereas the game was once dominated by so-called blue-blood programs, the power of Nike and Adidas to stock preferred rosters has been mitigated as once under-the-table money is out in the open. The playing field has leveled. New teams are winning.And so here comes another March. Izzo. Pitino. Barnes. Sampson. Pearl.”I always say, there are a million ways to win games, but the higher you get up on that pyramid, there’s still the basics,” Izzo said. “Just as there are for successful businessmen. Different jobs, different technology, but you still have to do the things that got you there.The man standing Tuesday behind a lectern, previewing his latest trip to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, has never been shy to chime in with his complaints.It’s no wonder that player payments and movement have been greeted with fear. Anytime an older coach retires — often throwing up his hands at the state of affairs — it’s hailed as proof that this is somehow unsustainable and the end times for college athletics has arrived.Same old coaches, same old tricks.”Their connectability and togetherness is as good as 99 percent of the teams I’ve had,” Izzo said.And if they make a buck along the way, even better.The NCAA is an organization, after all, that banned the dunk from 1967 to 1976, just as integration began sweeping the sport, as the new book “Magic in the Air” by Mike Sielski deftly details. The dunk wasn’t something James Naismith intended, or so the argument went. Either that or they feared a new, high-flying style of play in general — and UCLA center Lew Alcindor in particular.The greats find a way.”I’ll tell you why,” Izzo told ESPN on Tuesday. “I think as hard as it’s been on everybody, as impossible as it’s been to deal with, the experienced guys have been there and done that. And then it is, ‘Can they adjust?’ Some can, some can’t.”This isn’t supposed to occur anymore, the critics have claimed — not with NIL dollars flowing and rosters flipping at season’s end. Yet all over the country, it is. Those other high seeds — Duke, Florida and Alabama — are coached by younger men, but play in the same vein.Izzo set up more team bonding, especially off the court with trips ranging from an August barnstorming tour of Spain to a Detroit Tigers game. He doubled down on individual communication.There’s St. John’s (No. 2 seed in the West), coached by 72-year-old Rick Pitino, winner of the Big East tournament and regular season (by three games).And yet … Izzo is 70 years old and not just still coaching, but coaching No. 2 seed Michigan State in the South Region in his 27th consecutive NCAA tournament with a real shot at his ninth Final Four.These Spartans are nowhere near Izzo’s most talented, but they are tenacious as a unit. MSU has had nine different leading scorers this season and the players often defend and rebound as if their next meal depends on it.Maybe it turns out today’s players are just as interested as past generations in winning championships and being part of something bigger than themselves. Maybe they’re even better at seeking out the coaches who can provide it.Dan WetzelMar 19, 2025, 12:00 PMThat is Tom Izzo’s prerogative, one built from his perspective. Coaching these days is no doubt tougher, more time consuming and more frustrating than ever — managing a roster is akin to Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a hill.There’s Houston (No. 1 seed in the Midwest), coached by 69-year-old Kelvin Sampson, winner of the Big 12 tournament and regular season (by four games).EAST LANSING, Mich. — From courtrooms to Congress, college athletics has spent the past half decade decrying how name, image and likeness rights for players and the transfer portal have adversely affected competition, if not supposedly destroyed the soul of collegiate competition.There’s Izzo and his Spartans, who won the Big Ten regular-season title by three games.”I want them to see me as the other side of the guy, but sooner or later I’ve got to say, ‘Listen, I’ve been there, done that. If you want to listen to those idiots over there, or you can take a chance on me. But you have to figure it out.'”

NIL

Greatest experience of my basketball coaching career.

The 2024-25 Southeastern Conference was arguably the deepest, most talented league in the history of men’s college basketball. 14 of the SEC’s 16 teams ended up making the 2025 NCAA Tournament, the most ever by a single conference. Seven of them reached the Sweet 16, four went to the Elite 8, two made the Final […]

Published

39 minutes ago

May 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Eight SEC teams finished among the AP Poll’s Top 25, including Kentucky at No. 12.

The fact that the Wildcats finished 10-8 in the SEC in what was Mark Pope‘s first season as head coach was nothing short of an all-around success. According to KenPom, the SEC’s combined Net Rating of 22.09 in 2025-26 was the highest in the site’s history, which tracks data back to the 1996-97 season. It marked just the third time ever a single conference broke the 20-point Net Rating mark (1997 ACC and 2004 ACC) in KenPom’s system.

It was certainly a challenging stretch for Pope and his Wildcats, only made more difficult by non-stop injuries, but it was an experience he fully embraced — and one he’s excited to learn from moving forward.

“It was the greatest experience of my basketball coaching career, by far,” Pope told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports in an interview from earlier this week about his first year coaching in the SEC. “You know, last year, I was really blessed to coach in the Big 12, BYU’s first year in the Big 12, and that was an incredible experience. And it was a great league. I don’t think college basketball has ever seen a league like we saw last year in the SEC. Not just 14 teams in, but seven teams in the Sweet 16.

“I used to brag about my ’96 (Kentucky) team. The league was so good. We had four teams in the Sweet 16 and two teams in the Final Four. We had double that (in 2024-25), almost. Unfortunately for us, we got run out of the NCAA tournament by another SEC team. It’s what you live for as a competitor, is to be in a league like that. Hopefully we’ll run it back bigger and better next year as a league. The venues are incredible, the fan bases are incredible, the coaches are really humbling to go against these guys. I’ll treasure that experience last year forever.”

The SEC isn’t expected to be as deep in 2025-26, but there will still be plenty of talent from top to bottom and plenty of nationally ranked teams. After sticking in the middle of the pack last season, Kentucky will be among the favorites to win the league thanks to an upgraded roster and a better understanding from Pope of what it takes to succeed at this level of ball.

Join KSR Plus! With a KSR Plus membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

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NIL

Nick Saban meets with President Trump to change NIL for College Football

Published

3 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Nick Saban meets with President Trump to change NIL for College Football Nick Saban had a private meeting with President Trump on the current state of the NIL inside of College Football right now, and President Trump is now considering of creating an executive order to put new NIL policies & procedures in place. – Join The Bama Standard Membership Community: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxamLUbaBb7t7Jod7bbXXFA/join – 🆂🅲🅸🅻 🅼🅴🅳🅸 Twitter: https://bit.ly/3yhJFwU Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ic8XAW Facebook: https://bit.ly/3R9znY3 – Subscribe Now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxamLUbaBb7t7Jod7bbXXFA?sub_confirmation=1 – Bama Standard Network Shows The Bama Standard: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVZZ12gkh961jA7apAXd5tGDu8KrRceXz&si=tiXXNjrVEM7K_GC7 The Final Whistle: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVZZ12gkh963di18J8Pb0_Tpg4m21pKcF&si=FRXlPfkaF45STth- Crimson Dynasty: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVZZ12gkh961shaBXZXp71MpRdfbL_jFY&si=AIivhtBWtdoE486J Teagues Take:…

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Bridgewater St.

BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer This event doesn’t have a set start time, but PrimeTime will be available once the event begins. Live statistics will be available at the start of the event in: Game Information Tue, May. 6, 20253:00 PM EDT Date & Time […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY

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This event doesn’t have a set start time, but PrimeTime will be available once the event begins.

Live statistics will be available at the start of the event in:

Game Information

Tue, May. 6, 2025
3:00 PM EDT

Date & Time

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NIL

Mocs Bring the Rain with Four Home Runs at ETSU

Next Game: at East Tennessee State 5/4/2025 | 1:00 p.m. May. 04 (Sun) / 1:00 p.m. at East Tennessee State History JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The rain held off long enough Saturday in Johnson City to play the game, but the Chattanooga softball team brought a little of its own, […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The rain held off long enough Saturday in Johnson City to play the game, but the Chattanooga softball team brought a little of its own, raining down four home runs to beat ETSU 7-2 in Southern Conference action.

With the Mocs trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Baileigh Pitts put a first-pitch shot over the fence in left field to give UTC a 2-0 lead. Acelynn Sellers led off the inning with a double and pinch runner Abi Pikas scored on the homer.

In the fifth, Chattanooga added a third run. Kailey Snell reached on a double and advanced to third on a single by pinch hitter Presley Williamson. Camryn Cernuto reentered to run the bases and was caught stealing. However, that opened up the chance for Snell to score from third and UTC was up 3-1. It was the first time Cernuto was caught this season.

Pitts led off the sixth with a single through the left side. With two outs, freshman Mia Leone stepped up to the plate to pinch hit. She didn’t wait long to get her first collegiate home run. Leone took the first pitch well out of the park clearing the fence in left field and down the hill adding two more runs for Chattanooga.

In the seventh, the Mocs decided to shake it up. Olivia Lipari led off with a home run to left and Acelynn Sellers took a cue from her and the duo went back-to-back to make it a 7-2 advantage.

The Bucs picked up their first run, scoring on a double into the gap in left center. The second was a solo home run in the sixth.

Peja Goold struck out seven and improved to 23-5 on the year. She takes sole possession of seventh on the single-season wins list.

Pitts was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Leone was 1-for-1 with a homer and a pair of runs batted in. Sellers was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and an RBI.

The Mocs improved to 38-12 overall and 14-4 in SoCon play. ETSU dropped to 16-34 on the season and 5-14 against the league.

• The last time UTC had four home runs in a single game was earlier this season against IU Indy in the Frost Classic. The Mocs won 9-8.
• The last time the Mocs had back-to-back home runs was in the 2024 SoCon Championship game by Kaili Phillips and Addy Keylon.

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For the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga Softball, please follow @GoMocsSB on Twitter & Instagram and ChattanoogaSB on Facebook.

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NIL

Bill Haisten

More than two years have passed since Oklahoma became an NIL state at the high school level. In 40 states, prep athletes are allowed to monetize their name, image and/or likeness. On the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association website, there is a page on which NIL guidelines are posted. The most interesting of those guidelines: […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

More than two years have passed since Oklahoma became an NIL state at the high school level. In 40 states, prep athletes are allowed to monetize their name, image and/or likeness.

On the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association website, there is a page on which NIL guidelines are posted.

The most interesting of those guidelines: Promises of NIL money or cars or clothes or anything else may not be presented to any student-athlete in an attempt to entice that athlete to change schools.

Has that happened?

Or will that happen?

BROKEN ARROW FOOTBALL — “At this time,” Broken Arrow coach Travis Hill says, there is no fund-raising collective for the Tiger football program. However, he added, “Coach Hill is no dummy. I’m going to work on that.”

Mike Simons, Tulsa World

More than likely, yes and yes. But it’s not supposed to. On paper, it’s illegal.

I didn’t write about Oklahoma prep-level NIL in May 2023 or May 2024 because I rarely heard it mentioned, and it just didn’t seem to be much of a thing.

I’m writing about it in May 2025 because it has become a frequently talked-about possibility in Tulsa-area high school sports. Apparently, the practice of compensating high school athletes soon will be common.

When Owasso football coach Bill Blankenship was asked whether he is aware of any Tulsa-area fund-raising collectives for high school NIL, he replied, “I’m not going to be naïve and say that it won’t happen, because it already (is happening) – clearly.”

Broken Arrow coach Travis Hill was asked whether there is a collective that funnels NIL resources to the Tiger program.

“At this time,” Hill replied, there is no fund-raising collective in Broken Arrow.

However, Hill added, “Coach Hill is no dummy. I’m going to work on that. If you’re not ready for (NIL), you’ll get left behind. I don’t know when this will be put in place. I know the rules and regulations. It’s legal.

“We’ve got to start preparing. NIL is here. We haven’t put it in place yet (at BA), but it’s coming.”

While there are no known collectives or fund-raising organizations connected to any Tulsa-area high school, Hill predicts that their development is inevitable.

“If you’re not thinking it’s coming,” Hill said, “you’re lying to yourself.”

It should be emphasized that not one dime of NIL money would be provided by a school district.

The source of money paid to a student-athlete would be a third-party collective or perhaps a company that, for example, might want to pay a kid for endorsing something on his or her social-media platforms.

There are known examples of area football stars being paid some NIL money for making an appearance at a child’s birthday party or for providing on-field or on-court skills instruction for grade-school athletes.

It also should be emphasized that there aren’t limits or strict specifications on high school NIL – just like there is an almost-anything-goes lawlessness in college sports’ NIL.

OWASSO FOOTBALL — Owasso’s Bill Blankenship on the possibility of the creation of an NIL fund-raising collective for his program: “We don’t have anything formal or even started at all at Owasso, but, obviously, those discussions have to be taking place.”

Mike Simons, Tulsa World

“I think (unregulated NIL) has ruined college football,” Blankenship said, “and it can do the same to high school (athletics). That’s the bottom line.”

For some families, Bixby athletic director Kate Creekmore said, NIL compensation “could change their lives and (enhance) the outcome of some kids in recruiting.”

“But, yeah,” she added, “it’s a crazy time. I’m not surprised that we’re having this conversation. It was a matter of time, with the way college athletics are going.

“The spirit of high school sports – developing student-athletes and seeing them grow – it’s all certainly changing. I would hate for us to lose the spirit of what made high school sports so great in the first place. But I do like that kids now are able to make money.”

Before NIL was legalized, a Tulsa-area prep wrestler – a state champion – wanted to provide instruction for grade-school athletes. He inquired about renting his school’s wrestling space for two hours, sharing his knowledge and making a little pocket money.

Because that wrestler still was a student-athlete at that school, his request to rent the facility was denied. Today, there would be no problem with such a request.

BIXBY FOOTBALL — In December 2021, Bixby athletic director Kate Creekmore presented the Class 6AII championship trophy to then-Spartan senior running back Braylin Presley.

Tulsa World

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On the subject of the development of fund-raising collectives, Blankenship said, “We don’t have anything formal or even started at all at Owasso, but, obviously, those discussions have to be taking place.”

Blankenship says he is repulsed by the thought of any school offering money to a possible incoming transfer.

“If I had to start buying players, I’m out,” he said. “I have no interest in that world.”

However, in a concession to the apparent inevitability of legally providing NIL opportunities, Blankenship added this: “I’m not referring to paying the players we already have.”

bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com

NIL

Shedeur Sanders’ Wants To Build Colorado Buffaloes Into ‘Super Team’ With NIL

During the 2024 season, after a dominant 52–0 win over Oklahoma State, former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders casually dropped a headline-making comment while addressing the media: “Imma donate to the collective for sure,” Sanders said with a grin. “I’ll make sure we have a super team next year!” While the line initially came off […]

Published

4 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation